Optical switch element comprising a liquid-crystalline medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an optical switch element, comprising a liquid-crystalline medium for the temperature-dependent regulation of radiant energy flow. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the optical switch element for the regulation of radiant energy flow between interior spaces and the environment and for the regulation of the temperature of interior spaces. The invention furthermore relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, characterized in that it comprises 5-95% of a compound of the formula (I), in particular for use in the optical switch elements according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a thermoresponsive optical switch element, comprising a liquid-crystalline medium for the temperature-dependent regulation of radiant energy flow. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the optical switch element for the regulation of radiant energy flow between interior spaces and the environment and for the regulation of the temperature of interior spaces. The invention furthermore relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, characterised in that it comprises 5-95% of a compound of the formula (I), in particular for use in the switch elements mentioned above.

The optical switch element is used in accordance with the invention in windows or comparable openings in buildings, such as, for example, in glazed doors, skylights and/or glass roofs for the regulation of light influx.

For the purposes of this invention, the term liquid-crystalline medium is to be taken to mean a material or compound which under certain conditions shows liquid-crystalline properties. Preferentially, the liquid-crystalline medium shows thermotropic behavior, more preferably, the medium exhibits a temperature-induced phase transition from an isotropic to a liquid-crystalline phase, most preferably to a nematic phase.

For the purposes of this invention, the term interior space is intended to be taken to mean both interior spaces in private, public or commercial buildings, for example buildings used for office purposes, and also the interior spaces of vehicles. Furthermore, the term interior space is also intended to be taken to mean the interior spaces of buildings used purely commercially, such as, for example, greenhouses.

For the purposes of this invention, the term window is intended to be taken to mean any desired light-transmissive openings sealed by solid material in buildings, in transport containers or in vehicles.

For the purposes of this invention, radiant energy flow is taken to mean the flow of electromagnetic radiation which emanates from the sun, hits the earth after passing through the atmosphere and is only absorbed to a small extent, or not at all, by glass sheets. The electromagnetic radiation may alternatively also emanate from light sources other than the sun. Since relatively short-wavelength radiation (UV-B light) and long-wavelength infrared radiation are absorbed by the atmosphere or by glass sheets, for the purposes of this invention, the term “radiant energy” is understood to comprise UV-A light, light in the visible region (VIS light) and near-infrared (NIR) light.

The term light, unless defined more precisely, is likewise intended to be taken to mean electromagnetic radiation in the UV-A region, VIS region and near-infrared region.

According to commonly used definitions in the field of physical optics, for the purposes of this invention, UV-A-light is understood to be electromagnetic radiation of 320 to 380 nm wavelength. VIS-light is understood to be electromagnetic radiation of 380 to 780 nm wavelength. Near-infrared light (NIR) is understood to be electromagnetic radiation of 780 to 3000 nm wavelength.

Therefore, for the purposes of this invention, the terms “radiant energy” and “light” are understood to be electromagnetic radiation of 320 to 3000 nm wavelength.

For the purposes of this invention, the term “optical switch element” thus denotes a device which switches the flow of radiant energy in the form of light in the UV-A, VIS and near-infrared region or in sub-regions thereof. The terms “device” and “switch element” will in the following be used interchangeably.

The optical switch element according to the invention is thermoresponsive. However, it may additionally also be controlled by one or more other mechanisms, for example by electrical current or mechanical mechanisms. Preferably, such other mechanisms are not present.

Modern buildings are distinguished by a high proportion of glass surfaces, which is desired both for aesthetic reasons and also in relation to the brightness and comfort of the interior spaces. It has become equally important in recent years that buildings used for living or commercial purposes and/or which are accessible to the public have high energy efficiency. This means that as little energy as possible has to be expended for heating purposes in the cold season in temperate climatic zones (where the majority of highly developed industrial nations are located) and no or only little air conditioning of the interior spaces is necessary in the warm season.

However, a high proportion of glass surfaces hinders the achievement of these aims. In warm climatic zones and in the warm season in temperate climatic zones, glass surfaces result in undesired heating of the interior spaces when they are hit by solar radiation. This is due to the fact that glass is transparent to radiation in the VIS and NIR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Objects in the interior space absorb the radiation that is allowed through and are warmed thereby, which results in an increase in the temperature of the interior space (greenhouse effect).

This increase in temperature of the interior space behind a glass surface which is called greenhouse effect is due to the fact that the objects in the interior which have absorbed the radiation will also emit radiation. However, the emitted radiation of these objects is mainly in the infrared spectrum (typically about 10,000 nm wavelength) of light. It therefore cannot pass through the glass again and is “trapped” in the space behind the glazing.

However, the above-described effect of glass surfaces in buildings is not generally undesired: at low outside temperatures, in particular in cold climatic zones or in the cold season in temperate climatic zones, heating of the interior spaces owing to solar radiation due to the greenhouse effect may be advantageous since the energy requirement for heating is thereby reduced and costs can thus be saved.

With the increasing importance of energy efficiency of buildings, there is therefore a growing demand for devices which control the flow of energy through windows or glass surfaces. In particular, there is a demand for devices which enable the flow of energy through glass surfaces to be matched to the conditions (heat, cold, high solar radiation, low solar radiation) prevailing at the particular time.

The prior art discloses both non-switchable devices, which limit the energy flow, but cannot be adapted in a variable manner, and also switchable devices, which are able to match the energy flow to the respective conditions prevailing. Amongst the switchable devices, a distinction should be made between devices which do not adapt automatically to the ambient conditions and devices which adapt automatically to the ambient conditions. The latter devices are also known as smart windows.

In order to improve the thermal insulation of windows, multiple-glazed window units (insulated glass units, IGU) have been known for some time. The sequence of two or more glass panes which enclose one or more gas-filled interspaces which are insulated from the environment enables thermal conduction through windows to be significantly reduced compared with single-glass panes.

The prior art furthermore discloses the coating of glass surfaces with thin metal or metal-oxide layers. The production of glass coated in this way is disclosed, for example, in, inter alia, U.S. Pat. No. 3,990,784 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,018. The coating of glass surfaces with thin metal or metal-oxide layers is in many cases combined with the use of multipane insulating glass. The coating has the effect, inter alia, that the transparency of the glass to near-infrared radiation is reduced, thus reducing the heating of the interior space owing to the greenhouse effect.

If the radiant energy flow is controlled exclusively by a coating technique of this type and/or by the use of insulating glass, however, adaptation to varying weather or seasonal conditions is not possible. For example, it would be of interest for windows to be totally transparent to sunlight at cold outside temperatures in order to reduce the energy consumption for heating. Conversely, it would be desirable for windows to allow less sunlight to pass through at warm outside temperatures, so that less heating of the interior spaces takes place.

There is therefore a demand for devices in which the radiant energy flow can be matched to the respective conditions prevailing. In particular, there is a demand for devices which are able to adapt automatically to the ambient conditions.

The prior art discloses devices which, on application of an electrical voltage, can be switched reversibly from a light-transmissive state to a less light-transmissive state, which can either be a light-scattering state or a state in which less light is transmitted, but transparency is maintained.

The first state will be referred to as bright state in the following, whereas the second state will be referred to as dark state.

A differentiation shall be made within the dark state between a dark state in which the device scatters incoming light and is therefore merely translucent and not transparent anymore and a dark state in which the device is less light-transmissive but still transparent. The former will be referred to as a dark translucent state, whereas the latter will be referred to as a dark transparent state.

Therefore, two types of switch elements can be discerned: those which switch between a bright state and a dark transparent state and those which switch between a bright state and a dark translucent state.

Representatives for both types of switch elements are known in the prior art.

A possible embodiment of electrically switchable devices are electrochromic devices, which are presented, inter alia, in Seeboth et al., Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, 2000, 263-277. A further review is offered by C. M. Lampert et al., Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, 2003, 489-499. The electrically switchable devices presented therein can typically be switched between a bright state and a dark transparent state.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,042,615 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,062 describe, for example, electrochromic devices in which the switching between a transparent state and a non-transparent state is achieved by the application of a voltage and the resulting migration of ions.

Further electrically switchable devices known from the prior art for the control of radiant energy flow are devices based on suspended particles (suspended particle devices, SPDs), for example particles of organic poly-iodides, which align in an electrical field (U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,521). They likewise typically switch from a bright state to a dark transparent state.

Further electrically switchable devices known from the prior art are based on the alignment of molecules of a liquid-crystalline medium on application of an electric field.

Such devices are disclosed, inter alia, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,268,126, U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,922, U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,150 and WO 2008/027031 and likewise switch under electrical control from a bright state to a dark transparent state.

Although the electrically switchable devices mentioned above enable the radiant energy flow to be set, they have the disadvantage of having to be electrically controlled.

It would be desirable to have available a switch element which adapts automatically to the ambient conditions and which does not have to be controlled either manually or by any additional coupled device capable of giving a signal upon a detected temperature deviation.

It would furthermore be desirable to have available a switch element which does not require any electrical circuits. The introduction of electrical circuits into windows is accompanied by additional work during manufacture of the windows and entails the risk of susceptibility to flaws or a short service life of the devices. Furthermore, additional infrastructure is necessary for such devices, including electrical power supply.

Devices which are not electrically switched, but instead are, for example, temperature-controlled (thermoresponsive devices), are described, inter alia, in Nitz et al., Solar Energy 79, 2005, 573-582. A possible embodiment of such devices are systems which are based on the separation between two phases above a certain temperature. Further embodiments are based on temperature-dependent properties of hydrogels. However, these devices typically switch between a transparent state and a dark translucent state, which is undesired for applications in which it is required that the device stays transparent also in the dark state.

US 2009/0015902 and US 2009/0167971 disclose optical switch elements comprising a liquid-crystalline medium between two polarisers. The liquid-crystalline medium has the property of rotating the plane of polarisation of the light at a first temperature and not rotating or essentially not rotating the plane of polarisation of the light at a second temperature. Thus, a suitable arrangement of the polarisers enables the devices to allow more light to pass through at the first temperature than at the second temperature. The two temperature-dependent states represent a bright state (first temperature) and a dark transparent state (second temperature).

In particular, the two applications US 2009/0015902 and US 2009/0167971 disclose devices in which a twisted nematic cell (TN cell) is used as optical switch element. In this case, the switching between the bright state and the dark transparent state is achieved by the phase transition of the liquid-crystalline medium present in the twisted nematic cell from a nematic state at a temperature below the clearing point to an isotropic state at a temperature above the clearing point.

In the twisted nematic cells, the plane of polarisation of the second polariser is rotated with respect to the plane of polarisation of the first polariser by a defined value. Furthermore, in the nematic state, the liquid-crystalline medium rotates the plane of polarisation of polarised light by defined value which may be different from the before-mentioned value. In the isotropic state, the liquid-crystalline medium does not rotate the plane of polarisation of polarised light.

According to a preferred embodiment disclosed in US 2009/0015902 and US 2009/0167971, the two polarisers are arranged to each other in such a way that a defined amount of light can pass through the combination of first polariser, liquid-crystalline medium in its nematic state and second polariser. This state represents the bright state of the device. In this arrangement, when the liquid-crystalline medium is in the isotropic state, less light can pass through the device. This state represents the dark state of the device.

The applications US 2009/0015902 and US 2009/0167971 furthermore disclose that liquid-crystalline media having a low clearing point are suitable for use in the said devices. The switching process from the bright state to the dark transparent state, which is caused by the phase transition of the liquid-crystalline medium, is intended to take place merely on heating of the device by the typical radiation intensity of the sun in the warm season. To this end, a preferred clearing point of below 85° C. is disclosed. An example disclosed is a liquid-crystalline medium which comprises the liquid-crystalline mixture E7 together with added 4′-hexyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (6CB) and which has a clearing point of 35° C. It is furthermore generally disclosed in the above-mentioned applications that the liquid-crystalline mixture ZLI1132 (Merck KGaA) with a clearing point of 72° C. can alternatively also be used as the basis for the preparation of liquid-crystalline media for use in the switchable devices. However, no specific illustrative embodiments are disclosed in this respect.

In this respect, it is to be noted that the modification of mixture E7 disclosed in US 2009/0015902 and US 2009/0167971 by addition of alkylcyanobiphenyl compounds, such as, for example, 4′-hexyl-4-cyanobiphenyl, has the disadvantage that the low-temperature stability of the liquid-crystalline medium is impaired.

A good low-temperature stability of the liquid-crystalline medium is however highly desirable, since in many applications, the switch element is exposed to low temperatures for extended periods of time.

In summary, there is a high interest in liquid-crystalline media which are suitable for use in thermally switchable devices. In particular, it would be desirable to have available liquid-crystalline media which have a transition from a nematic state to an isotropic state (clearing point) at a temperature which is within the operating-temperature range of the optical switch element. There is furthermore a high interest in liquid-crystalline media which have the highest possible content of two-ring aromatic compounds, since two-ring aromatic compounds can be prepared cost-effectively. There is furthermore a high interest in liquid-crystalline media which have good low-temperature storage stability, preferably in combination with the properties mentioned above.

To this end, the present invention provides a thermoresponsive optical switch element comprising a liquid-crystalline medium, which comprises one or more compounds of the formula (I)

where

-   R¹¹, R¹² is on each occurrence, identically or differently, an alkyl     or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms or an alkenyl or alkenyloxy     group having 2 to 10 C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the     groups mentioned above may be replaced by F or Cl and where one or     more CH₂ groups may be replaced by O or S, or are selected from the     group comprising F, Cl, CN, NCS, R¹³—O—CO— and R¹³—CO—O—; where -   R¹³ is, identically or differently on each occurrence, an alkyl     group having 1 to 10 C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the alkyl     group may be replaced by F or Cl and where one or more CH₂ groups in     the alkyl group may be replaced by O or S; and

are, identically or differently, selected from

and

-   X is on each occurrence, identically or differently, F, Cl or an     alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the     groups mentioned above may be replaced by F or Cl and where one or     more CH₂ groups may be replaced by O or S; and -   Y is on each occurrence, identically or differently, selected from H     and X.

Preferentially, the liquid-crystalline medium furthermore comprises one or more compounds of the formula (II)

where

-   R²¹, R²² have the meanings indicated for R¹¹ and R¹² above; and

are, identically or differently, selected from

and

and

-   X is on each occurrence, identically or differently, F, Cl or an     alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the     groups mentioned above may be replaced by F or Cl and where one or     more CH₂ groups may be replaced by O or S; and -   Y is on each occurrence, identically or differently, selected from H     and X; and -   Z²¹ is —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O— or a     single bond;     with the proviso that if Z²¹ is selected from —CO—O— and —O—CO—,

must not both be selected from

Preferentially, the liquid-crystalline medium furthermore comprises one or more compounds selected from compounds of the formulas (III) and (IV)

where

-   R³¹, R³², R⁴¹ and R⁴² have the meanings indicated for R¹¹ and R¹²     above;     and

are, identically or differently, selected from

and

are, identically or differently, selected from

and

and

-   X is on each occurrence, identically or differently, F, Cl or an     alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the     groups mentioned above may be replaced by F or Cl and where one or     more CH₂ groups may be replaced by O or S; and -   Y is on each occurrence, identically or differently, selected from H     and X; and -   Z³¹, Z³² are on each occurrence, identically or differently, —CO—O—,     —O—CO—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O— or a single bond;     and -   Z⁴¹, Z⁴², Z⁴³ are on each occurrence, identically or differently,     —CO—O—, —O—CO— or a single bond.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises one or more compounds of formula (I) and one or more compounds of formula (II) and one or more compounds selected from compounds of the formulas (III) and (IV), as defined above.

It is furthermore preferred that in compounds of the formula (I), R¹¹ and R¹² are, identically or differently on each occurrence, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the groups mentioned above may be replaced by F or Cl, or are selected from the group comprising F, Cl, CN and R¹³—CO—O—.

Furthermore, preferentially, R¹³ is, identically or differently on each occurrence, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

It is particularly preferred that in compounds of the formula (I), R¹¹ represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms or R¹³—CO—O—.

It is furthermore preferred that in compounds according to the invention, X is, identically or differently on each occurrence, selected from F, Cl or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 C atoms. It is particularly preferred that X is selected from F and Cl, and it is very particularly preferred that X is F.

It is furthermore preferred that in compounds of the formula (I),

are, identically or differently, selected from

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the compounds of the formula (I) are compounds of the following formulas (I-1) and (I-2)

where X is defined as above and R¹¹ and R¹² are defined as for formula (I) above.

Particularly preferred compounds according to formula (I-1) are compounds according to one of formulas (I-1a) to (I-1b)

where R¹¹ and R¹² are preferably, identically or differently on each occurrence, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

Particularly preferred compounds according to formula (I-2) are compounds according to one of formulas (I-2a) and (I-2b)

where R¹¹ is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, compounds according to formula (II) are selected from compounds of the following formulas (II-1) and (II-2)

where

-   R²¹, R²² have the meanings indicated for R¹¹ and R¹² above; and

are as defined above, with the proviso that for formula (II-2),

must not both be selected from

According to a preferred embodiment, in compounds of the formula (II-1),

is selected from

and

is selected from

According to another preferred embodiment, in compounds according to formulas (II-1) and (II-2), R²¹ is selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to another preferred embodiment, in compounds according to formulas (II-1) and (II-2), R²² represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the alkyl or alkoxy group may be replaced by F or Cl, is are selected from the group comprising F, Cl, CN and R¹³—CO—O— with R¹³ as an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in compounds of the formula (II-2),

stands for

and

is selected from

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, compounds of the formula (II-1) are compounds of the following formulas (II-1a), (II-1b) and (II-1c):

where

-   R²¹, R²² have the meanings indicated for R¹¹ and R¹² above.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, compounds of the formula (II-2) are compounds of the following formula (II-2a):

where

-   R²¹, R²² have the meanings indicated for R¹¹ and R¹² above.

According to a very particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, compounds according to formula (II-1a) are selected from compounds of the following formulas (II-1a-1) and (II-1a-2):

where R²¹ and R²² are, identically or differently on each occurrence, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a further very particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, compounds according to formula (II-1b) are selected from compounds of the formula (II-1b-1):

where R²¹ is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a further very particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, in compounds according to formula (II-1c), R²¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms and R²² is an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a further very particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, in compounds according to formula (II-2a), R²¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms and R²² is an alkyl or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a preferred embodiment, compounds of formula (III) are selected from compounds of the following formulas (III-1), (III-2) and (III-3):

where

-   R³¹, R³² have the meanings indicated for R¹¹ and R¹² above; and

are as defined above; and

-   Z³¹ and Z³² are, identically or differently on each occurrence,     selected from —CO—O— and —O—CO—.

According to a preferred embodiment, in compounds of formula (III-1),

are, identically or differently, selected from

According to a preferred embodiment, in compounds of formula (III-2),

are, identically or differently, selected from

According to a preferred embodiment, in compounds of formula (III-3),

are, identically or differently, selected from

In a more preferred embodiment, in compounds of formula (III-3),

are selected from

In an alternative more preferred embodiment, in compounds of formula (III-3),

are, identically or differently, selected from

According to another preferred embodiment, in compounds according to formulas (III-1), (III-2) and (III-3), R³¹ is selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to another preferred embodiment, in compounds according to formulas (III-1), (III-2) and (III-3), R³² represents an alkyl group having 1 to C atoms, where one or more H atoms in the alkyl group may be replaced by F or Cl, or is selected from the group comprising F, Cl and CN.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, compounds according to formula (III-1) are selected from compounds of formula (III-1a):

where R³¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, compounds according to formula (III-2) are selected from compounds of formula (III-2a) to (III-2g):

where R³¹ and R³² are, identically or differently on each occurrence, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, compounds according to formula (III-3) are selected from compounds of formula (III-3a) to (III-3h):

where R³¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms and R³² is an alkyl group or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

Particularly preferably, in compounds according to formula (III-3a) to (III 3g), R³¹ and R³² are, identically or differently on each occurrence, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

Particularly preferably, in compounds according to formula (III-3h), R³¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms and R³² is an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a preferred embodiment, compounds of formula (IV) are selected from compounds of the following formulas (IV-1) and (IV-2):

where

-   R⁴¹, R⁴² have the meanings indicated for R¹¹ and R¹² above; and

are as defined above.

According to a preferred embodiment, in compounds of the formula (IV-1),

are, identically or differently, selected from

According to a further preferred embodiment, in compounds of the formula (IV-2),

are, identically or differently, selected from

According to another preferred embodiment, in compounds according to formulas (IV-1) and (IV-2), R⁴¹ and R⁴² are selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, compounds according to formula (IV-1) are selected from compounds of formula (IV-1a):

where R⁴¹ and R⁴² are defined as above.

Preferably in compounds according to formula (IV-1a), R⁴¹ and R⁴² are an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, compounds according to formula (IV-2) are selected from compounds of the following formulas (IV-2a), (IV-2b) and (IV-2c):

where R⁴¹ and R⁴² are an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the total concentration of the compounds of the formula (I) is between 5 and 95%.

It is furthermore preferred that the total concentration of the compounds of the formula (II) is between 1 and 60%.

It is furthermore preferred that the total concentration of the compounds of the formulas (I) and (II) is between 60 and 100%.

It is furthermore preferred that the total concentration of the compounds of the formulas (III) and (IV) is between 0 and 30%.

It is furthermore preferred that the total concentration of the compounds of the formulas (III-3c), (III-3d), (III-3e), (III-3f), (III-3g) and (III-3h) is between 0 and 30%, more preferably between 0 and 15%, and most preferably between 0 and 8%.

The invention concerns furthermore a liquid-crystalline medium comprising one or more compounds of the formula (I) as defined above in a total concentration of 5 to 95% and at least one further compound of the formula (II) as defined above, so that the total concentration of the compounds of the formulas (I) and (II) is between 60 and 100%.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises at least 5 different compounds selected from the compounds of formulas (I) to (IV). According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises at least 6 different compounds selected from the compounds of formulas (I) to (IV). According to an even more preferred embodiment, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises at least 7 different compounds selected from the compounds of formulas (I) to (IV).

Optionally the media according to the present invention may comprise further liquid crystal compounds in order to adjust the physical properties. Such compounds are known to the expert. Their concentration in the media according to the instant invention is preferably 0% to 30%, more preferably 0.1% to 20% and most preferably 1% to 15%.

The liquid crystalline media according to the present invention may contain chiral dopants as further additives in usual concentrations. Preferred chiral dopants are listed in Table E below. The total concentration of these further constituents is in the range of 0% to 10%, preferably 0.1% to 6%, based on the total mixture. The concentrations of the individual compounds used each are preferably in the range of 0.1% to 3%. The concentrations of these and of similar additives is not taken into consideration for the values and ranges of the concentrations of the liquid crystal components and compounds of the liquid crystal media in this application.

The liquid crystalline media according to the present invention may contain dyes as further additives in usual concentrations. In a preferred embodiment, dyes or combinations of dyes leading to grey or black color are used. In a further preferred embodiment, the dyes are selected from dyes with high light stability and good solubility, e.g. azo-dyes or anthraquinone dyes. The total concentration of these further constituents is in the range of 0% to 10%, preferably 0.1% to 6%, based on the total mixture. The concentrations of the individual compounds used each are preferably in the range of 0.1% to 9%. The concentrations of these and of similar additives is not taken into consideration for the values and ranges of the concentrations of the liquid crystal components and compounds of the liquid crystal media in this application.

The liquid crystalline media according to the invention may contain stabilizers as further additives in usual concentrations. Preferred stabilizers are listed in Table F below. The total concentration of the stabilizers is in the range of 0% to 10%, preferably 0.0001% to 1%, based on the total mixture.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clearing point (the temperature of the phase transition from the nematic to the isotropic state, T(N,I)) is lower than 60° C. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, T(N,I) is lower than 50° C. According to an even more preferred embodiment, T(N,I) is lower than 40° C.

A preferred liquid-crystalline medium for use in the thermoresponsive optical switch element according to the invention comprises (preferred liquid-crystalline medium I)

-   -   one or more compounds according to formulas (I-1a), (I-1b),         (I-2a) or (1-2b) in a total concentration of 5 to 95%,     -   one or more compounds according to formula (II-1b-1) in a total         concentration of 1 to 30%,     -   one or more compounds according to formulas (II-1a-1), (II-1a-2)         or (II-2a) in a total concentration of 0 to 60%, and     -   one or more compounds according to formulas (III-1a), (III-2a)         to (III-2g), (III-3a) to (III-3h), (IV-1a) or (IV-2a) to (IV-2c)         in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, and         where the total concentration of the compounds of the         formulas (I) and (II) is between 60 and 100%.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the preferred liquid-crystalline medium I comprises compounds of the formulas (III-3c), (III-3d), (III-3e), (III-3f), (III-3g) and (III-3h) in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, more preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 15%, and most preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 8%.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises (preferred liquid-crystalline medium II)

-   -   one or more compounds according to formulas (I-1a), (I-1b),         (I-2a) or (I-2b) in a total concentration of 5 to 95%     -   one or more compounds according to formulas (II-1a-1) or         (II-1a-2) in a total concentration of 5 to 60%,     -   one or more compounds according to formula (II-2a) in a total         concentration of 1 to 60%, and     -   one or more compounds according to formulas (III-1a), (III-2a)         to (III-2g), (III-3a) to (III-3h), (IV-1a) or (IV-2a) to (IV-2c)         in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, and         where the total concentration of the compounds of the         formulas (I) and (II) is between 60 and 100%.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the preferred liquid-crystalline medium II comprises compounds of the formulas (III-3c), (III-3d), (III-3e), (III-3f), (III-3g) and (III-3h) in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, more preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 15%, and most preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 8%.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises (preferred liquid-crystalline medium III)

-   -   one or more compounds according to formulas (I-1a), (I-1b),         (I-2a) or (1-2b) in a total concentration of 5 to 95%     -   one or more compounds according to formulas (II-1a-1), (II-1a-2)         or (II-1c) in a total concentration of 5 to 60%,     -   one or more compounds according to formulas (III-1a), (III-2a)         to (III-2g), (III-3a) to (III-3h), (IV-1a) or (IV-2a) to (IV-2c)         in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, and         where the total concentration of the compounds of the         formulas (I) and (II) is between 60 and 100%.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the preferred liquid-crystalline medium III comprises compounds of the formulas (III-3c), (III-3d), (III-3e), (III-3f), (III-3g) and (III-3h) in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, more preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 15%, and most preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 8%.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium comprises (preferred liquid-crystalline medium IV)

-   -   one or more compounds according to formulas (I-1a), (I-1b),         (I-2a) or (1-2b) in a total concentration of 5 to 95%     -   one or more compounds according to formulas (II-1a-1) or         (II-1a-2) in a total concentration of 5 to 60%,

one or more compounds according to formulas (III-1a), (III-2a) to (III-2g), (III-3a) to (III-3h), I-1a) or (IV-2a) to (IV-2c) in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, and

where the total concentration of the compounds of the formulas (I) and (II) is between 60 and 100%.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the preferred liquid-crystalline medium IV comprises compounds of the formulas (III-3c), (III-3d), (III-3e), (III-3f), (III-3g) and (III-3h) in a total concentration of 0 to 30%, more preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 15%, and most preferably in a total concentration of 0 to 8%.

The liquid crystal media according to the present invention consist of several compounds, preferably of 5 to 30, more preferably of 6 to 20 and most preferably of 6 to 16 compounds. These compounds are mixed in conventional way. As a rule, the required amount of the compound used in the smaller amount is dissolved in the compound used in the greater amount. In case the temperature is above the clearing point of the compound used in the higher concentration, it is particularly easy to observe completion of the process of dissolution. It is, however, also possible to prepare the media by other conventional ways, e.g. using so called pre-mixtures, which can be e.g. homologous or eutectic mixtures of compounds or using so called multi-bottle-systems, the constituents of which are ready to use mixtures themselves.

The invention concerns furthermore a process for the preparation of a liquid-crystalline medium as defined above, characterized in that one or more compounds of the formula (I) are mixed with one or more compounds of the formula (II) and optionally with one or more further mesogenic compounds and/or additives.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the optical switch element comprises

-   -   the liquid-crystalline medium in the form of a thin layer, and     -   at least two polarisers, preferably in the form of thin layers,         one of them positioned on one side of the liquid-crystalline         medium, the other positioned on the opposite side of the         liquid-crystalline medium.

For the purposes of this application, the term “polariser” refers to a device or substance which blocks light of one polarisation direction and transmits light of another polarisation direction. Likewise, the term “polariser” refers to a device or substance which blocks light of one kind of circular polarisation (right-handed or left-handed) whereas it transmits light of the other kind of circular polarisation (left-handed or right-handed). The blocking may occur by reflection and/or absorption. A reflective polariser therefore reflects light of one polarisation direction or one kind of circular polarisation and transmits light of the opposite polarisation direction or other kind of circular polarisation; and an absorptive polariser absorbs light of one polarisation direction or one kind of circular polarisation and transmits light of the opposite polarisation direction or other kind of circular polarisation. The reflection or absorption is typically not quantitative, leading to the polarisation of light by the polariser not being perfect.

According to the present invention, both absorptive and reflective polarisers may be used in the optical switch elements. Preferably, the polarisers according to the invention represent optical thin films. Examples of reflective polarisers which can be used according to the invention are DRPF (diffusive reflective polariser film, by 3M), DBEF (dual brightness enhanced film, by 3M), layered-polymer distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,745 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,758 and APF (advanced polariser film, by 3M). Furthermore, wire-grid-polarisers (WGP), which reflect infrared light, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,638, for example, may be used. Wire-grid polarizers which reflect in the visible and ultraviolet part of the spectrum are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,103, for example, and may also be used according to the invention. Examples of absorptive polarisers which may be used according to the invention are Itos XP38 polarising film or Nitto Denko GU-1220DUN polarising film. Examples of circular polarisers which can be used according to the invention are APNCP37-035-STD (left handed) and APNCP37-035-RH (right handed) from American Polarizers Inc.

The polarisers can be linear or circular polarisers, preferably linear polarisers.

For linear polarisers, it is preferred that the directions of polarisation of the two polarisers are rotated with respect to each other by a defined angle.

Further layers and/or elements, such as one or more separate alignment layers, one or more glass sheets, one or more bandblock filters and/or color filters to block light of certain wavelengths, for example UV-light, may be present. Furthermore, one or more insulating layers, such as low-emissivity films, for example, may be present. Additionally, one or more adhesive layers, one or more protective layers, one or more passivation layers or one or more barrier layers may be present. Optionally, an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer may be present. In the layer of the liquid crystalline medium, spacers may be present. Typical embodiments of the above-mentioned elements as well as their function is known to the person skilled in the art.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotation of polarised light by the liquid-crystalline medium in the liquid-crystalline state is caused by an alignment of the molecules of the liquid-crystalline medium. According to the invention, this alignment is typically effected by alignment layers which are in direct contact with the liquid-crystalline medium. Preferentially, the alignment layers represent the two outer boundaries of the liquid-crystalline medium layer. For example, two alignment layers facing each other may be attached to the interior of the compartment enclosing the liquid-crystalline medium. According to another preferred embodiment, the alignment layers constitute the compartment enclosing the liquid-crystalline medium. The alignment layers may be prepared by rubbing a polymer or polymer film with a rubbing cloth, a sandpaper or some other suitable material. Polyimide films are particularly suitable for this, but orientation may be achieved also on other kinds of polymers.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the alignment layer and the polariser layer are not separate but form one single layer. They may, for example, be glued or laminated together. The property of inducing an alignment of the liquid-crystalline molecules may for example be conferred to the polariser by rubbing, scratching and/or micropatterning the polariser layer. For details, it is referred to patent application US 2010/0045924, whose disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

A preferred embodiment of the optical switch element according to the invention comprises the liquid-crystalline medium within a container of transparent material, preferably a transparent polymer or glass.

Furthermore, the optical switch element comprises two or more alignment layers which are in direct contact with the liquid-crystalline medium. For example, the alignment layers can be attached to the inner surface of the above-mentioned container. According to another preferred embodiment, the inner container surface can serve as an alignment layer itself. Furthermore, the optical switch element comprises two or more polarisers which may be present in the form of polarising foils, as disclosed above. Further rigid or flexible layers may be present, such as additional glass sheets, bandblock filters such as UV-blocking films and/or insulating layers such as low-emissivity films. According to this embodiment of the invention, the optical switch element is rigid and cannot be bent or rolled up for storage and/or transport due to the presence of layers of rigid material.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium is enclosed by a flexible polymer sheet. This flexible polymer sheet may represent the polariser and/or the alignment layer. Further layers, such as described above, may be additionally present. For details, it is referred to patent application US 2010/0045924, whose disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference. According to this embodiment, the optical switch element is flexible and can be bent and/or rolled up.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium has a solid or gel-like consistency. According to this embodiment, a rigid container for the liquid-crystalline medium is not required, eliminating the need for glass and/or rigid polymer sheets to be present in the optical switch element. An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that the optical switch element is less vulnerable to damage and can be produced in the form of thin flexible sheets which can be rolled up. The optical switch element can then be cut from this roll in any shape or size, which simplifies storage, transport and production of the device.

To obtain the above-mentioned solid or gel-like consistency of the liquid-crystalline medium, the following procedures can be used according to the invention.

The liquid-crystalline medium may, for example, be embedded in the form of discrete compartments such as microdroplets of liquid-crystalline medium, within an optically transparent medium. The optically transparent medium preferably is a polymeric material, particularly preferably an isotropic thermoplastic, duroplastic or elastomeric polymer. Particularly preferably, the polymeric material is a thermoplastic or elastomeric polymer. Examples for this are NCAP-films (NCAP=nematic curvilinear aligned phases) and PDLC-films (PDLC=polymer dispersed liquid crystal). NCAP films may be obtained by a process in which the encapsulating polymeric material, for example polyvinyl alcohol, the liquid-crystalline medium and a carrier material, such as water, are mixed thoroughly in a colloid mill. Afterwards, the carrier material is removed, for example by evaporation. A detailed procedure for the formation of NCAP-films is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,047. PDLC-films, which are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,900, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Nonlin. Optic, 157, (1988), 427-441, WO 89/06264 and EP 0272585, may be obtained by homogeneously mixing the liquid-crystalline medium with monomers and/or oligomers which will later react to the polymer matrix. After polymerisation, a phase separation is induced, in which compartments or microdroplets of liquid crystalline medium form which are dispersed within the polymer matrix.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the liquid-crystalline medium is present as a continuous phase within a polymer network (PN-systems). Such systems are described in detail in EP 452460, EP 313053 and EP 359146, for example. The polymer network typically has a spongy structure, in which the liquid-crystalline medium can float freely. According to a preferred embodiment, it is formed by polymerisation of mono- or polyacrylate monomers.

Preferably, the liquid-crystalline medium is present in PN-systems in a percentage of more than 60%, particularly preferably in a percentage of 70-95%. The polymer network systems can be prepared by inducing a polymerisation reaction in a mixture comprising the liquid-crystalline medium and the respective monomers and/or oligomers which form the three-dimensional polymer network. According to a preferred embodiment, the polymerisation is started by photoinitiation.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the polymer does not form a network, but is dispersed in the form of small particles within the liquid-crystalline medium, which is present as a continuous phase as in PN-network systems.

The liquid-crystalline media according to the present invention are particularly suitable for use in the above-mentioned PDLC-, NCAP- and PN-systems.

Further subject of the present invention is therefore a composite system comprising a liquid-crystalline medium as defined above and a polymer, preferably a microporous polymer.

According to the invention, the optical switch element is thermoresponsive, signifying that its switching state is determined by temperature. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, no electrical wiring, circuitry and/or switching network is present in the optical switching element.

The switching of the optical switch element occurs between a bright or open state of the optical switch element in which a higher proportion of radiant energy is transmitted and a dark or shut state of the optical switch element in which a smaller proportion of radiant energy is transmitted.

Radiant energy is defined as above and is understood to comprise electromagnetic radiation in the UV-A region, VIS region and near-infrared region. Naturally, the switch element is not equally effective over the complete spectrum of radiant energy as defined above. Preferably, the switch element blocks a high proportion of NIR and VIS-light in the shut state, particularly preferably a high proportion of NIR light.

Also preferred are switch elements that switch in one of the ranges VIS or NIR only as well as combinations switching in one range and permanently blocking the other, for example switching VIS and permanently blocking NIR.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switching is effected by a change in the physical condition of the liquid-crystalline medium. This change in the physical condition of the liquid-crystalline medium is temperature-dependent. Preferably, it is a phase transition. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the switching is effected by a phase transition of the liquid-crystalline medium from a liquid-crystalline phase to an isotropic phase which takes place at a particular temperature. Even more preferably, the switching is effected by a phase transition of the liquid-crystalline medium from a nematic phase to an isotropic phase.

Typically, the liquid-crystalline medium is in the isotropic state at a temperature above the phase-transition temperature and in a liquid-crystalline, preferably nematic state at a temperature below the phase-transition temperature.

Since the switching of the device is due to a temperature-dependent change in the physical condition of the liquid-crystalline medium, the liquid-crystalline medium represents the thermoresponsive element of the optical switch. However, further thermoresponsive elements may be present.

For the use of the optical switch to regulate the radiation energy flow between an interior space and the environment, preferably between a room of a building and the exterior, it is desirable that the switch operates at a temperature which is typical for the exterior of buildings. Preferably, the switching temperature of the optical switch is between −20 and 80° C., more preferably between 10 and 60° C. and most preferably between 20 and 50° C.

The switching temperature is defined to be the temperature of the optical switch. Typically, this temperature is similar to the outside air temperature. However, under some conditions, for example under direct exposure to sunlight, it may differ significantly from the outside air temperature. Also, in the case of certain device setups, for example when the optical switch is located inside of an insulated glass unit, the temperature of the optical switch may differ significantly from the outside air temperature.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as stated above, the switching of the optical switch is effected by a change in the physical condition of the liquid-crystalline medium. More preferably, this change in physical condition represents a phase transition which takes place at a certain phase transition temperature. Preferably, the phase transition temperature is between −20 and 80° C., more preferably between 10 and 60° C. and most preferably between 20 and 50° C.

In a highly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plane of polarisation of polarised light is rotated by the liquid-crystalline medium by a defined value if it is in the liquid-crystalline state. In contrast, the plane of polarisation of polarised light is not rotated by the liquid-crystalline medium if it is in the isotropic state. It is a further aspect of this preferred embodiment, that the directions of polarisation of the polarisers are not identical to each other, but rotated against each other by a defined angle.

In this preferred embodiment, the two states of the device are characterized as follows:

In the bright or open state, incoming light is polarised linearly by the first polariser. The linearly polarised light then passes through the liquid-crystalline medium in its liquid-crystalline state, which leads to its direction of polarisation being rotated by a defined angle.

After passing the liquid-crystalline medium, the linearly polarised light then hits the second polariser. A defined fraction of the light hitting the polariser is transmitted through the polariser. Preferably, there is an identity or only a relatively small divergence, most preferably an identity of the value by which the planes of polarisation of the two polarisers are rotated against each other and the value by which the plane of polarisation of the polarised light is rotated by the liquid-crystalline medium in its nematic state.

Here, the value by which the plane of polarisation of the polarised light is rotated by the liquid-crystalline medium is understood to be the angle formed between the plane of polarisation before entering the medium and the plane of polarisation after leaving the medium. This angle can in principle be between 0° and 180°. According to this, a turn by an angle X being larger than 180° is equivalent to a turn by X minus n*180°, the integer n being chosen so that the resulting angle X′ is in the range 0°≦X′>180°.

However, it is to be noted that the liquid-crystalline medium may cause a twisting of the plane of polarisation of the polarised light passing it which has an absolute value larger than 180°. Even a rotation by more than one complete turn (360°), for example 2¼ turns or 3¾ turns may occur according to the invention. However, the net value by which the plane of polarisation of polarised light is rotated from entering to leaving the liquid-crystalline medium is still in any case between 0° and 180°, as has been explained above.

Obviously, depending on the reference system used, the angle by which the plane of polarisation is rotated may also be represented as ranging from −90° to 90°, negative values meaning right-turns, positive values meaning left-turns.

In the bright state, due to the small divergence between the value by which the planes of polarisation of the two polarisers are rotated against each other and the value by which the plane of polarisation of the polarised light is rotated by the liquid-crystalline medium, a large fraction of the light which has passed the first polariser also passes the second polariser.

In order for the above-described bright state to occur, it is required that the liquid-crystalline medium is in its liquid-crystalline state. Typically, this is the case at a temperature below the phase-transition temperature. Therefore, according to this preferred embodiment, the optical switch element is in the bright state, when it is at a temperature which is below the switching temperature.

In order for the dark transparent or shut state to occur, it is required that the liquid-crystalline medium is in the isotropic state. In this case, incoming light is again linearly polarised by the first polariser. The polarised light then passes through the liquid-crystalline medium being in its isotropic state. The liquid-crystalline medium in the isotropic state does not rotate the direction of polarisation of linearly polarised light.

After passing the liquid-crystalline medium, the linearly polarised light with its direction of polarisation maintained hits the second polariser. The direction of polarisation of the second polariser is, as described above, rotated with respect to the direction of polarisation of the first polariser, which is in this case, as explained above, also the direction of polarisation of the linearly polarised light hitting the second polariser.

Due to the directions of polarisation of the polarized light and the polariser not being coincident, but rotated with respect to each other by a defined value which is identical to the value by which the two polarisers are rotated against each other, only a fraction of the light is now transmitted. The amount of light transmitted in this state is smaller than the amount of light transmitted in the bright state.

As described above, in the dark or shut state, the liquid-crystalline medium is in its isotropic state. Typically, this is the case at a temperature above the phase-transition temperature. Therefore, according to this preferred embodiment, the optical switch element is in the dark or shut state, when it is at a temperature which is above the switching temperature.

The directions of polarisation of the two polarisers may be rotated with respect to each other by any arbitrary value, depending on the desired transmission of the switch element in the dark transparent state. Preferred values are in the range of 45° to 135°, more preferred 70° to 110°, most preferred 80° to 100°.

The value by which the liquid-crystalline medium in its nematic state rotates the plane of polarisation of polarised light does not have to be identical to the value by which the directions of polarisation of the two polarisers are rotated with respect to each other. Preferably, the values are similar, with a preferred deviation of very preferably less than 30° and most preferably less than 20°.

The value by which the liquid-crystalline medium in its nematic state rotates the plane of polarisation of polarised light is preferably in the range of 0° to 360°. However, values of larger than 360° may also be present according to the invention.

For the purpose of regulating the temperature of the interior of buildings, the setup described above is generally preferred. At low temperatures, the flow of radiant energy is allowed since the optical switch is in the open state. At high temperatures, the optical switch is in the shut state, limiting the flow of radiant energy into the building.

Depending on the angle by which the two polarisers are offset against each other, and also depending on whether the polarisers polarise all of the incoming light or only a fraction of it, more or less light is transmitted through the optical switch in the shut state. With perfect polarisers in a “crossed” position (direction of polarisation rotated by 90° against each other), no light is transmitted in the shut state. If the direction of polarisation of the polarisers is rotated by an angle different than 90°, some light is transmitted even in the shut state. Such an arrangement is desirable according to the invention.

Similarly, the amount of light which is transmitted through the optical switch in the open state depends, among other factors, on the efficiency of the polarisers and on the difference between the angle by which the liquid-crystalline medium rotates the direction of polarisation of linearly polarised light and the angle by which the directions of polarisation of the two polarisers are rotated against each other. With perfect polarisers and an exact congruence of the angles of rotation, up to 50% of the light is transmitted through the device in the open state and, ideally, 0% of the light is transmitted in the shut state.

The rejection of 50% of the light is due to the fact that a perfect linear polariser rejects (by absorption or reflection) 50% of incoming unpolarised light. The transmittance of light through the device can therefore be raised significantly if non-perfect polarisers are used, which may be desirable.

It should be mentioned here that numerous other combinations of polariser orientations and rotation of the direction of polarised light due to the liquid-crystal medium can be used within the present invention.

Other embodiments of the present invention comprise a liquid-crystalline medium which scatters light when it is within a first temperature range and which is transparent within a second temperature range, whereas this second temperature range may be above or below the first temperature range. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the liquid-crystalline medium may affect the polarisation state of circularly polarised light.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the liquid-crystalline medium represents a guest-host system which comprises, in addition to one or more liquid-crystalline compounds, dye molecules or other materials which show absorptive or reflective properties. According to this embodiment, the liquid-crystalline medium provides orientation for the dye molecules when in the liquid-crystalline state (low temperature), but does not provide such orientation when in the isotropic state (high temperature). Since the dye molecules interact with light in a different manner depending on their degree of orientation, the guest-host-system shows temperature-dependent transmission properties. According to the present invention, when the liquid-crystalline medium represents a guest-host system, it may be preferable to use only one polarizer or even no polarizer at all in the devices according to the invention. Furthermore according to the present invention, when the liquid-crystalline medium represents a guest-host system, a twisted nematic orientation of the liquid-crystalline medium or a vertically aligned orientation of the liquid-crystalline medium is preferably used.

According to the present invention, the optical switch element can be attached to transparent windows, facades, doors or roofs of any kind, including those present in private, public and commercial buildings, in containers for transport, storage and inhabitation and in any vehicles. Particularly preferred is the attachment to insulated glass units (IGU) or multipane windows and/or the use as an integrated element of insulated glass units or multipane windows. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the optical switch element is attached at the outside-facing side of the window, facade, door or roof. According to another preferred embodiment, the optical switch element is placed in the interior of an IGU, where it is protected from adverse effects such as extreme weather conditions and from degradation due to UV exposure. In an alternative embodiment, the optical switch element is attached at the inside-facing side of the window, facade, door or roof.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the optical switch element covers the complete surface of the window. In this case, the control over the radiant energy flow by the switching of the device is maximised.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the optical switch element covers only parts of the surface of the window, so that there are gaps left which are not covered by the optical switch element. These gaps may take the form of stripes, spots and/or larger areas. This could allow that some parts of a window can be switched between a bright state and a dark state, whereas other parts remain bright at all times. This leads to the transparency of the window especially in the shut state to be increased.

The optical switch element may be used according to the invention to regulate the radiant energy flow between an interior space and the environment. Particularly preferably, it is used for regulating the energy flow in the form of VIS-light and NIR-light or VIS-light only or combinations of regulated VIS-light and permanently blocked NIR-light. It is furthermore preferred that the optical switch element regulates the radiant energy flow automatically, without the need for manual controlling, by its capability of temperature-dependent switching between an open state and a shut state. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the optical switch element is used to regulate the interior temperature of a building and/or a vehicle.

For the purposes of the present invention, all concentrations are, unless explicitly noted otherwise, indicated in mass percent and relate to the corresponding mixture or mixture component, unless explicitly indicated otherwise.

The clearing points of liquid-crystalline mixtures are determined in capillary tubes. A suitable instrument is Mettler Toledo FP90. Typically, liquid-crystalline mixtures show a clearing range. According to our definition, the clearing point is the lowest temperature of that range where the whole material is still nematic.

Alternatively, clearing points of a mixture in a display can be determined in normally white-mode TN-cells in a microscope hot stage. The beginning of the transition from the nematic to the isotropic state leads to black spots in the TN-cell. When heating up, the temperature at which such spots first occur is determined to be the clearing point.

For applications according to the present invention, long-term storage behaviour of the liquid-crystalline media in displays is relevant. For determination of the long-term storage behaviour in displays, the liquid-crystalline mixture is filled into several TN-cells with a thickness of 5 to 6 μm. The TN-cells receive an end-seal, get polarisers attached for normally white mode setup and are stored for up to 1000 hours in a refrigerator at a given temperature. At defined time intervals, the TN-cells are inspected visually for dark spots indicating crystallisation or smectic-nematic transitions. If the TN-cells do not show spots at the end of the testing period, the test is passed. Otherwise, the time elapsed until the first spots are detected is noted as a measure of long-term storage stability.

In the present application and especially in the following examples, the structures of the liquid crystal compounds are represented by abbreviations, which are also called “acronyms”. Tables A to C show the structural elements of the compounds together with their corresponding abbreviations.

All groups C_(n)H_(2n+1), C_(m)H_(2m+1), C_(l)H_(2l+1) and C_(k)H_(2k+1) are preferably straight chain alkyl groups with n, m, l and k C-atoms, respectively, all groups C_(n)H_(2n), C_(m)H_(2m), C_(l)H_(2l) and C_(k)H_(2k) are preferably (CH₂)_(n), (CH₂)_(m), (CH₂)_(l) and (CH₂)_(k) respectively and —CH═CH— preferably is trans- respectively E vinylene. The Indices n, m, l and k preferably have a value between 1 and 10.

Table A lists the symbols used for the ring elements, table B those for the linking groups and table C those for the symbols for the left hand and the right hand end groups of the molecules.

TABLE A Ring Elements C

P

D

Dl

A

Al

G

Gl

U

Ul

Y

M

Ml

N

Nl

Np

n3f

n3f1

Th

thl

th2f

th2f1

o2f

o2f1

Dh

K

Kl

L

Ll

F

Fl

TABLE B Linking Groups E —CH₂—CH₂— V —CH═CH— T —C≡C— W —CF₂—CF₂— B —CF═CF— Z —CO—O— ZI —O—CO— X —CF═CH— XI —CH═CF— O —CH₂—O— OI —O—CH₂— Q —CF₂—O— QI —O—CF₂— Table C: End Groups

Remark: From left side to right side in the chemical structure, the indices used are n, if only one index occurs; n and m if two indices occur; n, m and l if three indices occur; and n, m, l and k if four indices occur. This nomenclature may be extended if necessary.

Therefore, a right-hand-side alkyl group —C_(n)H_(2n+1) corresponding to −n according to the acronym nomenclature (see below) may also be a group —C_(m)H_(2m+1) corresponding to −m, or a group —C_(l)H_(2l+1) corresponding to −l, or a group —C_(k)H_(2k+1) corresponding to −k, depending on the index which is chosen. The same applies for all other groups of Table C where a letter n is used standing for an index n.

Left hand side, used alone or Right hand side, used alone or in combination with others in combination with others -n- C_(n)H_(2n+1)— -n —C_(n)H_(2n+1) -nO- C_(n)H_(2n+1)—O— -On —O—C_(n)H_(2n+1) -V- CH₂═CH— -V —CH═CH₂ -nV- C_(n)H_(2n+1)—CH═CH— -nV —C_(n)H_(2n)—CH═CH₂ -Vn- CH₂═CH—C_(n)H_(2n)— -Vn —CH═CH—C_(n)H_(2n+1) -nVm- C_(n)H_(2n+1)—CH═CH—C_(m)H_(2m)— -nVm —C_(n)H_(2n)—CH═CH—C_(m)H_(2m+1) -N- N≡C— -N —C≡N -S- S═C═N— -S —N═C═S -F- F— -F —F -CL- Cl— -CL —Cl -M- CFH₂— -M —CFH₂ -D- CF₂H— -D —CF₂H -T- CF₃— -T —CF₃ -MO- CFH₂O— -OM —OCFH₂ -DO- CF₂HO— -OD —OCF₂H -TO- CF₃O— -OT —OCF₃ -A- H—C≡C— -A —C≡C—H -nA- C_(n)H_(2n+1)—C≡C— -An —C≡C—C_(n)H_(2n+1) -NA- N≡C—C≡C— -AN —C≡C—C≡N Left hand side, used in Right hand side, used in combination with others only combination with others only -...n...- —C_(n)H_(2n)— -...n... —C_(n)H_(2n)— -...M...- —CFH— -...M... —CFH— -...D...- —CF₂— -...D... —CF₂— -...V...- —CH═CH— -...V... —CH═CH— -...Z...- —CO—O— -...Z... —CO—O— -...ZI...- —O—CO— -...ZI... —O—CO— -...K...- —CO— -...K... —CO— -...W...- —CF═CF— -...W... —CF═CF— wherein n and m each are integers and three points “ . . . ” indicate that other symbols of this table may be present at the position.

TABLE D1 Illustrative Structures

CC-n-m

CC-n-Om

CC-n-V

CC-n-Vm

CC-nV-Vm

CG-n-m

CG-n-N

CG-nVm-N

CP-n-m

CP-n-N

CP-nVm-N

CP-n-F

CU-n-N

CZP-n-m

CZP-n-Om

GIZU-n-N

GZG-nO-N

GZU-n-N

PP-n-m

PP-n-N

PP-nO-m

PP-nO-N

PP-n-mVp

PZG-n-N

PZG-nO-N

PZG-nO-F

PZG-n-F

PZG-nV-Cl

PZGI-nO-m

PZGI-n-N

PZIP-n-N

PZIP-n-OT

PZIP-nO-O1T

PZIP-n-Zlm

PZIY-n-Om

PZP-n-m

PZP-n-Om

PZP-n-N

PZP-nO-m

PZP-nO-Om

PZP-nZ-F

PZP-nZ-m

PZP-nO-Zm

PZP-nZ-Om

PZP-nO-Zlm

PZU-n-N

PZU-nV2-N

PZU-Vn-Cl

PZY-nO-m

UZG-nO-F

UZG-nO-N

UZG-nOm-N

UZP-nOm-N

UZP-nO-F

UZU-nOm-N

YZP-nO-m

YZU-n-N

CCP-n-m

CCP-nVm-p

CCZC-n-m

CPP-n-m

CPZIC-n-m

CPZG-n-N

CPZP-n-m

CPZP-n-N

PGP-n-m

PGU-n-F

CGPC-n-m

CPPC-n-m

TABLE D2 Further Illustrative Structures

Table E lists chiral dopants, which are preferably used in the liquid crystalline media according to the present invention.

TABLE E

C 15

CB 15

CM 21

R S-811/S-811

CM 44

CM 45

CM 47

CN

R-1011/S-1011

R-2011/S-2011

R-3011/S-3011

R-4011/S-4011

R-5011/S-5011

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the media according to the present invention comprise one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of table E.

Table F lists stabilizers, which are preferably used in the liquid crystalline media according to the present invention.

TABLE F

Remark: In this table “n” means an integer in the range from 1 to 12.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the media according to the present invention comprise one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of table F.

EXAMPLES

The examples given in the following are illustrating the present invention without limiting it in any way.

However, the physical properties and compositions show the expert, which properties can be achieved and in which ranges they can be modified. Especially the combination of the various properties, which can be preferably achieved, is thus well defined for the expert.

Liquid crystal mixtures are realized with the compositions and properties given in the following tables. Their optical performance is investigated.

As stated in the description part of the present application, the clearing point of the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention is preferably between −20 and 80° C., more preferably between 10 and 60° C. and most preferably between 20 and 50° C.

Exemplary mixtures with a relatively high clearing point (>70° C., in particular >80° C.) are preferably used as a so-called two-bottle system in combination with a mixture having a lower clearing point.

-   1) Examples for preferred liquid-crystalline medium I

Example-1 Example-2 Clearing point 33° C. 19.8° C. Storage stability >1000 h >1000 h at −40° C. Subst. % Subst. % PZG-3-N 2 PZG-3-N 2 PZG-4-N 9 PZG-4-N 9 PZG-5-N 9 PZG-5-F 9 PZP-1-5 10 PZP-1O-1 15 PZP-1O-1 17 PZP-1O-5 16 PZP-1O-5 16 CP-3-N 20 CP-3-N 12 CP-5-3 10 PP-2-N 10 PP-2-N 10 PGU-3-F 9 PGU-3-F 9 CPZG-3-N 3 CPZG-4-N 3 sum 100 100

Example-3 Example-4 Clearing point 60° C. 34.5° C. Storage stability >1000 h >1000 h at −40° C. Subst. % Subst. % PZP-1-5 11 PZP-1-5 13 PZP-3-5 12 PZP-3-5 12 PZP-2-N 7 PZP-5-5 12 PZP-3-N 7 PZP-1O-5 5 PZG-2-N 3 CP-3-N 16 PZG-3-N 3 CP-5-3 7 CP-3-N 15 PP-2-N 8 PP-2-N 10 PP-3-N 8 PP-4-N 10 PP-4-N 8 CPZP-5-N 6 CPZP-5-N 3 CPZIC-3-4 8 CPZP-3-3 4 CPZIC-3-5 8 CPZIC-3-5 4 sum 100 100

Example-5 Example-6 Clearing point 62° C. 34° C. Storage stability >1000 h >1000 h at −40° C. Subst. % Subst. % PZP-1-5 21 PZP-1-5 21 PZP-3-5 20 PZP-3-5 20 PZP-1O-5 10 PZP-1O-1 10 PZP-6O-5 3 PZP-1O-5 10 PZP-2-N 10 PZP-6O-5 9 PZP-3-N 11 PZP-2-N 10 PP-2-N 5 PZP-3-N 11 CZPP-2-N 9 PP-2-N 5 CPZP-5-N 5 CZPP-2-N 4 CPZG-3-N 6 sum 100 100

-   2) Examples for preferred liquid-crystalline medium II

Example-7 Example-8 Clearing point 71.5° C. 32° C. Storage stability >1000 h >1000 h at −40° C. Subst. % Subst. % PZG-2-N 4 PZG-2-N 2 PZG-3-N 4 PZG-3-N 3 PZG-5-N 5 PZG-4-N 10 PZP-2-N 5 PZG-5-N 10 PZP-3-N 5 PZP-1O-1 13 PZP-1O-5 9 PZP-1O-5 12 CP-3-N 18 CP-3-N 18 CP-5-N 9 CP-5-N 12 CZP-3-O2 10 CZP-3-O2 10 CZP-5-O1 10 CZP-5-O1 10 CPZG-3-N 3 CPZG-4-N 2 CPZIC-3-4 8 CPZIC-3-5 8 sum 100 100

-   3) Examples for preferred liquid-crystalline medium III

Example-9 Example-10 Clearing point 61° C. 33° C. Storage stability >1000 h >1000 h at −40° C. Subst. % Subst. % PZP-1-5 8 PZP-1-5 8 PZP-3-5 8 PZP-3-5 8 PZP-5-5 8 PZP-5-5 8 PZP-1O-5 13 PZP-1O-1 12 PZP-6O-5 12 PZP-1O-5 13 CP-3-N 22 PZP-6O-5 12 CC-3-O3 9 CP-3-N 22 CPZIC-3-4 8 CC-3-O1 8 CPZIC-3-5 8 CC-3-O3 5 CCZC-3-3 4 CPZIC-3-4 4 sum 100 100

-   4) Examples for preferred liquid-crystalline medium IV

Example-11 Example-12 Clearing point 68° C. 27° C. Storage stability >1000 h >1000 h at −40° C. Subst. % Subst. % PZP-2-N 2 PZP-2-N 2 PZP-3-N 2 PZP-3-N 2 PZP-1O-5 20 PZG-5-N 7 PZP-6O-5 21 PZP-1O-1 17 CP-3-N 16 PZP-1O-5 16 CP-3-O1 15 PZP-6O-5 17 CPZIC-3-4 5 CP-3-N 20 CPZIC-3-5 4 CP-3-O1 5 CPZP-3-3 4 CP-3-O2 14 CPZP-3-5 4 CCZC-3-5 4 CCZC-4-3 3 sum 100 100

-   5) Use of Liquid-Crystalline Media in Thermoresponsive Optical     Switch Elements

The exemplary mixtures 1 to 12 are employed as liquid-crystalline media in the optical switch element according to the procedure of [0050]-[0055] of US 2009/0015902.

For assembling the optical switch element, the procedure described in paragraphs [0050]-[0055] of the above-mentioned patent application is followed, except that instead of the mixture disclosed in the application (5 parts 6CB (4′-hexyl-4-cyanobiphenyl), 1.25 parts mixture E7 and 0.008 parts 811) one of the exemplary mixtures of the present invention is used (examples 1-12).

With the mixtures according to the invention, thermotropic optical switch elements with high operational lifetime are obtained. The switch elements have a switching temperature which is close to the clearing point of the mixtures (10° C. to 80° C., which is in the preferred operating range of the elements).

This shows that high device stability together with a controllable clearing point can be obtained with the mixtures according to the invention. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A thermoresponsive optical switch element comprising a liquid-crystalline medium, which comprises one or more compounds of formula (I-1)

where R¹¹, R¹² is, identically or differently, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms or an alkenyl or alkenyloxy group having 2 to 10 C atoms, in any of which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S, or are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, R¹³—O—CO— and R¹³—CO—O—; R¹³ is, identically or differently, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S; which switch element is capable of a temperature-dependent regulation of radiant energy flow between an interior space and the environment; and which switch element has a switching temperature of between 20 and 50° C.
 2. A switch element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid-crystalline medium additionally comprises one or more compounds of formula (II)

where R²¹, R²² is, identically or differently, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms or an alkenyl or alkenyloxy group having 2 to 10 C atoms, in any of which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S, or are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, CN, NCS, R¹³—O—CO— and R¹³—CO—O—;

are, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of

X is, identically or differently, F, Cl or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S; Y is, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of H and X; Z²¹ is —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O— or a single bond; with the proviso that if Z²¹ is selected from the group consisting of —CO—O— and —O—CO—,

must not both be selected from the group consisting of


3. A switch element according to claim 1, wherein the liquid-crystalline medium additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of compounds of formulas (III) and (IV):

where R³¹, R³², R⁴¹ and R⁴² is, identically or differently, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms or an alkenyl or alkenyloxy group having 2 to 10 C atoms, in any of which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S, or are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, CN, NCS, R¹³—O—CO— and R¹³—CO—O—;

are, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of

are, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of

X is, identically or differently, F, Cl or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S; Y is, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of H and X; Z³¹, Z³² are, identically or differently, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O— or a single bond; and Z⁴¹, Z⁴², Z⁴³ are, identically or differently, —CO—O—, —O—CO— or a single bond.
 4. A switch element according to claim 2, wherein the one or more compounds of formula (II) are compounds of the following formulas (II-1) and (II-2):

with the proviso that for formula (II-2),

must not both be selected from the group consisting of


5. A switch element according to claim 4, wherein, in compounds of the formula (II-1),

is selected from the group consisting of

is selected from the group consisting of


6. A switch element according to claim 4, wherein, in compounds of the formula (II-2),

stands for

and

is selected from the group consisting of


7. A switch element according to claim 3, wherein the one or more compounds of formula (III) are compounds of the following formulas (III-1), (III-2) and (III-3):

where Z³¹ and Z³² are, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of —CO—O— and —O—CO—.
 8. A switch element according to claim 3, wherein the one or more compounds of the formula (IV) are compounds of the following formulas (IV-1) and (IV-2):


9. A switch element according to claim 2, wherein the total concentration of the compounds of formulas (I-1) and (II) is between 60 and 100%.
 10. A switch element according to claim 1, wherein no electrical wiring, circuitry and/or switching network is present.
 11. A method for the regulation of the flow of radiant energy between an interior space and the environment comprising regulating said radiant energy by a switch element according to claim
 1. 12. A liquid-crystalline medium comprising one or more compounds of formula (I-1) in a total concentration of 5 to 95% and at least one further compound of formula (II), so that the total concentration of the compounds of formulas (I-1) and (II) is between 60 and 100%, and which liquid-crystalline medium has a clearing point lower than 50° C.:

where R¹¹, R¹² is, identically or differently, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms or an alkenyl or alkenyloxy group having 2 to 10 C atoms, in any of which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S, or are selected from the group consisting of F, R¹³—O—CO— and R¹³—CO—O—; R¹³ is, identically or differently, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S;

where R²¹, R²² is, identically or differently, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 C atoms or an alkenyl or alkenyloxy group having 2 to 10 C atoms, in any of which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S, or are selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, CN, NCS, R¹³—O—CO— and R¹³—CO—O—;

are, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of

X is, identically or differently, F, Cl or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms, in which one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F or Cl and in which one or more CH₂ groups are optionally replaced by O or S; Y is, identically or differently, selected from the group consisting of H and X; Z²¹ is —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CF₂O—, —OCF₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —OCH₂—, —CH₂O— or a single bond; with the proviso that if Z²¹ is selected from the group consisting of —CO—O— and —O—CO—,

must not both be selected from the group consisting of


13. A composite system comprising a liquid-crystalline medium according to claim 12 and a polymer.
 14. A composite system comprising a liquid-crystalline medium according to claim 12 and a microporous polymer.
 15. A thermoresponsive optical switch element of claim 1 comprising a liquid-crystalline medium in the form of a thin layer and at least two polarizers in the form of thin layers, wherein one polarizer is positioned on one side of the liquid crystalline medium and the other polarizer is positioned on the opposite side of the liquid crystalline medium. 